In developing countries where women have no health care nearby,
vaginal fistulas are much more common. After days of pushing a baby that does
not fit through the birth canal, very young mothers can have severe vaginal,
bladder, or rectal damage, sometimes causing fistulas.

What are the symptoms?

A vaginal fistula is painless. But a fistula lets urine or feces
pass into your vagina. This is called incontinence. And it can cause
soiling problems that you cannot control.

If you have a vesicovaginal fistula, you most
likely have fluid leaking or flowing out of your vagina.

If you
have a rectovaginal, colovaginal, or enterovaginal fistula, you most likely
have foul-smelling discharge or gas coming from your vagina.

Your
genital area may get infected or sore.

How is a vaginal fistula diagnosed?

Your symptoms are the most clear signs of a vaginal fistula. Your
doctor will want to talk about your symptoms and about any surgery, trauma,
or disease that could have caused a fistula. For a physical exam, your doctor
will use a
speculum to look at the vaginal walls. You may have
other tests, such as:

The use of dye in the vagina (and maybe the
bladder or rectum) to find all signs of leakage.

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